Edge-forming means for flooring



Sept. 15-, 1970 FULLER ETAL 3,528,122

EDGE-FORMING MEANS FOR FLOORING Filed May 9, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6. 4 45 H6. 9 INVENTORJ Efm1nh ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 15, 1970 FULLER ET AL 3,528,122

EDGE-FORMING MEANS FOR FLOORING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9, 1967 p y 3 .Xtnfinnkiiififl mm m .8)? mum N .3 Q W M 7. f w A g g 3 United States Patent 01 hoe 3,528,122 Patented Sept. 15, 1970 Int. c1. A47g 27/04 US. Cl. 1616 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to edge-forming means for various types of flooring materials, especially of carpets. A preferred feature of the invention resides in the use of an edging strip which is held down against the floor and the pile of a carpet as a second class lever, and which possesses viscoelastic properties.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This invention is a continuation-in-part of applicants copending United States patent application, Ser. No. 549,295, filed May 11, 1966, now abandoned entitled Edge Former for Carpets.

This invention relates to edge-forming means for holding the edges of various types of carpets, and for finishing the edges of other types of floorings.

The term former as used herein relates to a device intended to be used at the edge of a carpet, there to perform a function on the carpet such as to hold it or to finish it off by covering the exposed edge. Examples of formers are various types of binder bars for doorways, grippers, and tackless strips. Certain parts of the device are also useful in finishing the edges of other types of flooring, such as linoleum and tile.

One well-known means for forming the edge of a carpet and holding it stretched is the tackless strip which comprises a length of wood with nails driven therethrough with their pointed ends slanted at an angle. The strip is nailed to the floor or wall, and then the carpet is stretched over the nails and engaged by them. This keeps the carpet stretched. While this type of strip is sold in great quantities, it does have certain serious disadvantages. One of these disadvantages is the need to use relatively expensive wood in order to support the nails against being pulled out by the carpet. The wood must be of high are diflicult, often impossible, to secure in colors which match the carpet, at reasonable prices.

Another well-known means for forming the edge of a carpet, especially at doorways, is the binder bar. This bar is generally made of metal, and usually incorporates points on which the carpet is impaled, and a metal flange which is pounded down over the carpet edge. These bars come in inconvenient lengths, are difiicult to color appropriately, are not readily shaped to contours, and often permit the carpet to pull loose at relatively low loads.

In either of the foregoing techniques, wear on the former is likely to be quite pronounced due to scufling, compressive, and rolling loads. They lack resiliency, and so either wear or deform to unsightly shapes. This is even more the case when the flooring material is tile or other non-resilient material.

In one embodiment of this invention there is provided a former for a carpet edge which can be manufactured from less expensive materials than prior art devices, which has a greater pull-out strength than said prior art devices, and which can, if desired, utilize a simplyinstalled finishing strip which can also be given any desired coloration.

It is another object of this invention to provide a former of wide utility which can anchor conventional, fiber backed carpet and also rubber backed carpet.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a former with viscoelastic properties, whereby momentary loads will not permanently damage or deform the former, and which tends to achieve a force relationship with the flooring which is stable and continuous. Previous devices have deformed carpet without enduring capacity to continue to move toward it, and thus its grip diminished with time as the carpet moves away from it in response to the force exerted by the former. This invention overcomes that limitation.

This invention utilizes a flange anchored to and spaced from the floor with a downwardly depending portion, and a viscoelastic finishing strip adapted to bear against the floor and the flooring, being impelled to do so as a second degree lever by virtue of a downwardly directed force exerted by the flange.

The invention includes an optional base strip having a reference surface with a plurality of cantilevered pointed members projecting from the base strip. Their pointed ends project beyond the base strip on the opposite side thereof from the reference surface. They are disposed so that they have no component extending in the direction of the pull. A backing strip of a material which has a greater strength than the material of the base strip overlays and abuts the base strip, and has a plurality of perforations which pass respective ones of the pointed members. The perforations are so disposed and arranged that the backing strip supports the pointed members in bearing when they are pulled toward the direction of pull, and they are reinforced one by the other through said backing strip.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a finishing strip useful with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2 taken at line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sections of still other embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-section of an optional finishing strip;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-section showing additional means useful in the invention;

FIGS. 10, 1] and 12 are cross-sections showing still other embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a portion of FIG. 12.

FIG. 2 shows a former 10 attached to a base surface 11 (sometimes called a reference surface), such as a wall or floor. The purpose of this former is to form an edge, such as at a doorway, for a carpet 12 with an underlying pad 13. This embodiment is primarily intended to anchor carpets.

The former includes a base strip 14 which is preferably made of wood, although it may be made of any other substance which is capable of having nails driven through it, such as kraft board, pulpboard and the like. The base strip includes a reference surface 15 which is adapted to lay against the base surface. A first side wall 16 which makes an oblique angle relative to the reference surface and a second side wall 17 is provided on the opposite side thereof. A plurality of pointed members 18 are driven through the base strip from the reference surface and make an oblique angle relative thereto. In FIG. 3, these pointed members are generally parallel and form a zigzag, or staggered, pattern along two lines.

The presently preferred pointed element is a nail. However, it is obvious that pointed wires, staples or the like could be used instead. Also, patterns other than staggered parallel lines may be used, such as double, aligned rows or other patterns. The illustration shows a widely used and accepted pattern.

The base strip is overlaid by a backing strip 20 which backing strip is made of material having a greater strength than the material of which the base strip is made. Preferably but not necessarily, this backing strip is made of metal, such as sheet steel or strip. It has a plurality of guide tabs 21 which are punched inwardly to form an angle complementary to side Wall 16 so as to engage the same. A plurality of tongues 22 are formed which engage the second wall 17 and bias the base strip toward the guide tabs, thereby to hold the base strip in place during shipping and installation.

Tongues 22 are formed in a shielding flange which depends from the central portion of the backing strip down to the elevation of the reference surface. The shielding flange is curved, and eliminates any sharp edges which might form a wear point.

Assembly nails 23 may be driven through both strips and into the base surface at the time the former is installed. However, it is preferred for nails 23 to be initially driven through the two strips as far as the reference surface, because this reduees labor and handling during installation. Nails 23 could, of course, be driven through both strips, but preferred practice is to pre-punch holes 24a to receive these nails. These holes should be slightly undersize so that an interference fit is made between the backing strip and the assembly nails. Then there will be a tight fit with both strips, and optimum transmission of forces.

The former is attached to the floor by attachment means, which means may be the lower reaches of nails 23, if they are driven into the base surface as shown, or may comprise an adhesive if the reference surface is attached to the base surface by bonding. The base surface itself becomes part of the total system, because either the nails, or the base strip, or both are directly attached to the base surface.

The upper reaches of assembly nails 23 comprise one form of shear-motion resisting means for attaching the base and backing strips to each other. Alternatively, these strips may be adhesively bonded together, or, as shown in FIG. 9, pointed flanges or tabs 24b may be forced into the base strip from backing strip 20, the tabs being punched down for that purpose. The base and backing strips of FIGS. 2 and 9 are alike in all other respects.

All of the above embodiments of shear-motion resisting means have in common resisting lateral motion parallel to the reference surface of the two strips. The strength of the said means and also of the floor are available to back up the pointed elements.

The former includes an overhanging flange 25 which is spaced from the base strip by a web 25a which is preferablyquite stiff and not readily bent. Flange 25 depends downwardly toward the reference surface, and terminates at a reference elevation 26 above the reference surface, and because of the stiff web support, is relatively immovable.

A plurality of perforations 27 are formed in the backing strip to pass the free ends of pointed members 18. To facilitate assembly, these perforations are formed with an enlarged region 28 and a restricted region 29. The pointed members can all readly be inserted at the same time into the nlarged regions and then the strips may be shifted relative to each other so as to move the nails into the relatively smaller restricted regions, where the nails are in close enough proximity to the edge of the perforation that when the nails begin to be deflected by force exerted by the carpet, the material of the backing strip will back up and support the pointed members.

A finishing strip 35 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 which has exceptional advantages in the instant invention. It may be formed of plastic which can be provided in rolls of indefinite length rather than of short metal pieces. Because the material can be made of plastic, such as B. F. Goodrich 8815 polyvinyl chloride, it can be compounded with dyes and the like to bear any desired coloration, and can be cut to exact length from coils of indefinite length. This exactness of sizing averts the cracks and abutments which are so prevalent in conventional binder bar installations which often are made up of many abutting pieces.

This finishing strip includes a fairing flange 36 adapted to overhang the edge of the carpet, a contact flange 37 adapted to contact the base surface, and a retention flange 38 adapted to contact the base surface and also to engage and be retained by the overhanging flange of the backing strip. Sometimes the fairing flange will contact only the backing 12a of the carpet, rather than the full pile, depending on the installers preference.

A first relief 39 is formed between the contact and retention flanges, and a second relief 40 is formed between the retention and the fairing flanges. The second relief also includes a retention groove 41 bounded on one side by a retention shoulder 42. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the inital curvatures of the finishing strip in its undeflected and relaxed shape are appreciably greater than those which are assumed when the device is installed. To install the finishing strip, the first relief is flattened out, which enables the retention shoulder to clear the overhanging flange without deflecting the backing strip, although such deflection could be performed if desired. When the finishing strip is installed, the inherent resilience of its material causes the first relief again to be at least partially formed, thereby forcing the finishing strip firmly against the overhanging flange at the retention groove. Further, the fairing flange bears down on the carpet, exerting a force thereon, the effect of which will later be described. It also exerts a counter-torque on the contact flange, which acts as a fulcrum. The finishing strip is thereby held in place as a second class lever without requiring nails or the like, and it may also be bent to any desired curvature without unsightly distortion thereof.

FIG. 8 shows a modification both of the backing member and of the finishing strip. A backing member is shown with a depending flange 81 which depends at an angle reference to the base surface, rather than normal thereto. This is intended to illustrate the lack of criticality of this angle, although a normal or even an acute angle at the bend may be more desirable.

Finishing strip 82 includes all elements of strip 35 except the first relief. It may be desired to have as firm a support as possible, for example by using non-resilient material, i.e., a metal, such as an aluminum alloy, in which case the resilience of the finishing strip is eliminated, as may be the first relief. Also, resilient material may be used such as polyvinyl chloride, eliminating the first relief. In this case, the web of the backing member may be sprung up to pass over the retention shoulder, or the lip of the flange may be bent down, or the strip may be tipped to pass the retention shoulder under the depending flange.

In FIG. 2 it may be desirable for the maximum thickness of the retention flange above the floor, with the region of the first relief flattened on the floor, to be no greater than reference elevation 26, and in FIG. 8, for the maximum thickness in tilted elevation to be no greater than this elevation. Then the strip can be installed without deforming the backing strip. However, this is not a necessary limitation.

There are potential advantages in forming this device of an individual base strip and a backing strip, and this is shown in FIG. 4 where a backing strip and a base strip 46 are shown which are identical to backing strip 20 and base strip 14, the details thereof being eliminated for simplicity of illustration of this feature. It will be seen that these strips are formed in equal lengths, but they do not precisely coincide. This enables a next piece of indefinite length to have its backing strip laid atop the base strip, thereby forming a continuous and uninterrupted former of indefinite length. It has heretofore been necessary in making long edges to simply abut the binder bars, thereby leaving gaps and discontinuities. This device avoids that by the simple expedient of having one of the two strips project beyond the other so as to receive a complementary portion of the next segment thereof.

FIG. 5 illustrates a former 50 having the same construction as former 10 except that the body has been slotted with a slot 51 all the way to the overhanging flange. This permits the former to be bent to any curvature desired without distorting the former other than by pure bending in the vertically disposed overhanging flange.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the use of the invention in a slightly different form. In FIG. 6 there is a base strip 55 adapted to be nailed to the floor or other reference surface by nails 56. In this device, adhesive 57 is used to hold the carpet to the former. This former includes an overhanging flange 58 having the same properties as overhanging flange 25, and a finishing strip 59 having the shape and properties of finishing strip 35 is snapped into place to finish the edge.

FIG. 7 shows another former 60 which is the same as that shown in the device of FIG. 6 but without the adhesive, although adhesive could be used if desired. In this case, carpet 61 is wrapped around the overhanging flange.

The device of FIG. 10 illustrates a number of refinements to the device of FIG. 1, and also includes a more conventional anchoring means. It includes a base member which has a Wooden base strip 101 with nails 102 projecting therefrom. This overlays and may be cemented or otherwise attached to a flange member 103.

The flange member is metallic and includes a base flange 104 which is adapted to be nailed or cemented to a reference surface 105 such as a floor. The flange member includes a rising portion 105a and a depending flange 106. The depending flange has a downward component toward the reference surface, and is fixed relative thereto. It is spaced therefrom by a reference distance 107.

A finishing strip is generally similar to strip 35 in that it includes a fairing flange 111, contact flange 112, retention flange 113, first relief 114, second relief 115, and retention groove 116. These have the same functions as in the device of FIG. 1. This device also includes a retention shoulder 117 which has a similar function to that of retention shoulder 42, except that it is a flap by nature. The edge of a fabric-backed carpet 118 is shown retained by this device.

FIG. 11 shows the device of FIG. 10 less the wooden base strip 110 in order that the edge of a rubber-backed carpet 130 which constitutes a rubber backing 121, a fabric backing 122, and a pile 123, may be retained. The rubber backing may, if desired, be cemented to the flange member by adhesive 124, a portion of the rubber backing being peeled off adjacent to the edge, so that the fabric backing overlays a projecting portion of the flange member. Adhesive at surface 124 is not usually needed, because the carpet is generally cemented to the floor near the edge.

FIG. 12 illustrates another means of accomplishing the objectives of this invention. In this device, a base strip includes a depending flange 131 which extends toward the carpet 132, but which is still fixed relative to a reference A finishing strip 136 includes a fairing flange 137, contact flange 138, retention flange 139 and retention shoulder 140 with the same functions as those in the other embodiments. There is a first relief 141, a toe 142 and a clearance 143 between the base of the retention shoulder and the reference surface. It is evident that in this embodiment the flange 131 pulls down the finishing strip instead of pushing it down, the hook-like element entering from the bottom rather than from the top.

In all embodiments of this invention, the metal flange may be attached to the floor by nailing or cementing it down.

FIG. 12 also illustrates a feature applicable to all embodiments. In this case, toe 142 will contact the floor before the top of the depending flange will strike the finishing strip. This protects the strip against being cut by the metal when a sudden load is exerted on the strip. Clearance 143 should be smaller than clearance 144 when this feature is desired.

FIG. 13 shows another feature applicable to all embodiments of the invention. As illustrated, it is a modification of base strip 130 from. FIG. 12. The base strip illustrated includes a base flange 181 and a depending flange 182, which are the same as those in FIG. 12, except that the depending flange and the rising portion 183 are notched so as to provide a plurality of slots 184. The result of this is that some of the material of the strip flows into the notches so as to be axially engaged. This prevents the finishing strip from shrinking. One of these notches every inch to an inch and a half has proved to be an advantage when shrinkage may be a problem. It also provides a substantially enhanced retention of the finishing strip.

The illustrations show carpeting as the subject of the forming operation. However, it is obviously adapted to tiling and to linoleum and the like, because these can readily be laid on the base flange. The devices of FIGS. 10 and 12 can also be so used without the tackless strip.

As to FIG. 2, the base strip may be made of relatively simple materials which need not be especially strong or expensive. Plywood of thickness has been found, in combination with 30'-gauge steel strip, to give far greater pull-out resistance than the standard formers. This device can be made considerably narrower than standard formers. The slope surface 16 enables the wood to stand closer to the free edge, and the height is also less. In fact, the height of these formers is about less than standard formers or even less strength, and is about A to /2" narrower. These are important advantages in reducing carpet wear at the edge.

An examination of the figures in which a finishing strip is used will indicate that it is used as a second class lever, with the contact flange acting as a fulcrum and the depending flange as the applied force. This is opposed by the carpet, and it is this force exerted by the carpet in opposition to the force from the depending flange which aids in retaining the carpet edge. It also aids in retaining the finishing strip, because the force from. the carpet (or force derived from deformation of the fairing flange by other types of flooring) together with the fulcrum force, pulls the finishing strip against the depending flange.

In the preferred embodiment, the finishing strip has the inherent property of viscoelasticity. This property is generally known, and is fully discussed in Modern Plastics Encyclopedia, 1966 edition, at pages 39-46. A basic feature of this property is that the combined properties of elasticity of the material, and of its ability to flow, are functions both of the duration of loading and of the time rate of loading. Viscoelastic material can flow to different shapes so as to accommodate itself to various forces and geometries. This is a most useful feature in this finishing strip because it enables both legs to accommodate themselves to irregularities of surface of the floor with which it seals, and also enables the overhanging fairing flange to accommodate itself to wide ranges of pile thickness and to Wide ranges of irregularities of thickness along its edge. Furthermore, it permits the finishing member to be compressed or otherwise deflected by foot and wheel traflic Without excessive fatiguing, permanent deformation from temporary loads, abrasion and cutting. The surprising thing is that a resilient flange of this kind may bear down on a relatively resilient carpet and remain in position for an indefinite period of time without causing discomfort or danger to foot traffic, or deteriorating in its structural shape. Because the piles of most carpets also have the property of viscoelasticity, especially carpets of the various synthetic yarns such as nylon, rayon, acrylic and the like, both the finishing strip and the carpet continuously oppose each other, even after a long passage of time, and also even after substantial short or long term application of pressure with resultant cold flow. Thus this device keeps the damping force on the carpet, and can also respond defensively to sudden loadings. The strip can thereby readily deflect as traflic passes over it, and still return to it pre-stressed shape quickly. This is in sharp contrast to the typical rigid devices which are badly worn by such traflic and which speedily deteriorate. Furthermore, the material of the finishing strip can readily be bent to any desired shape, and can be handled by well understood working techniques such as bending, cutting, welding and forming.

This device has a wide range of installation techniques, both as to attaching it to the base surface and as to engaging carpets to it. The device may be nailed or cemented to the floor. A carpet may be engated to it by hooking the pointed members into the backing 12a, and then covering the edge with a finishing strip, or a self-edge may be made by bending the carpet edge around the depending flange.

There is still another retention feature which relates t the spacing between the overhanging flange of the finishing strip and the top of the horizontal flange on the metal base. This spacing is selected so as to be less than the anticipated rug thickness so that when the finishing strip is hooked in the condition as shown, a clamping retentive action is exerted by the finishing strip, due to its resilient nature. Also, the depending flange presses downwardly on flange 116 and thereby acts as a second class lever, pulling the flange down upon the rug with flange 112 acting as the fulcrum. The floor acts as one-half of a female fitting to receive the male portion, namely flange 113. Flange 111 also forms one-half of a female fitting to receive the male portion, i.e. flange 106. Flange 106 also acts as the other part of the female fitting which in cludes the floor, and flange 117 also forms the other part of the female fitting including the flange 111. There results a keyed set of two socket systems which are mutually retentive.

There results a continuously acting former with resistance to long and short term loadings, and which can include a mutually retentive double socket system.

The reliefs, which are disposed adjacent to the floor, enable the former to deflect downwardly rather freely under load, and this yielding action which is opposed by the resilience of the material has a favorable influence on the life of the finishing strip.

The device is simple to manufacture and install to any desirable curvature and is adaptable to a wide range of colorations, and is versatile for use in many types of installations. Its utility is not limited to carpet installations. -It functions as well at joints of tile, linoleum and the like, where the viscoelastic property of the finishing strip may be of great importance because of its resistance to damage upon sudden loadings.

What is claimed is:

1. A former for a flooring edge comprising: a base member adapted to 'be attached to a reference surface; a depending flange on said base member rigidly disposed at a reference spacing from said reference surface; a resilient finishing strip having a cross-section which includes a contact flange, a fairing flange and, medially between the said flanges, a retention groove adapted to receive the depending flange the fairing flange being of such width as to overhang and bear against the rug with no impediment preventing the full continuous and resilient contacts of the fairing flange with the rug there being no medial part of the finishing strip between the portion of the fairing flange which contacts the rug and that portion of the contact flange which contacts the reference surface that impedes the initial movement of said medial part toward the reference surface from its engagement with the retention groove being in contact with the depending flange when there is no load on the finishing strip toward the reference surface thereby to establish a continuous force system between the rug and the fairing flange, whereby the depending flange draws the contact flange against the reference surface and, acting as the force in a second class lever system with the contact flange as a fulcrum, drawing the fairing flange against the top surface of a rug which rug lies adjacent to the former, the fairing flange being vertically spaced from the depending flange over a major portion of its free length so as to make unimpeded contact with the said top surface.

2. A former according to claim 1 in which the base member comprises a metal strip with a base flange adapted to be attached to the reference surface, and a rising portion interconnecting the base flange and the'depending flange.

3. A former according to claim 2 in which the base flange includes a surface to which the backing portion of a carpet may be attached.

4. A former according to claim 2 in which rug attachment means including projecting pointed nails is attached to the base flange adjacent to the rising portion.

5. A former according to claim 1 in which the finish ing strip is a continuous, homogeneous structure made of a material which has the property of viscoelasticity.

6. A former according to claim 5 in which the base miember comprises a metal strip with a base flange adapted to be attached to the reference surface, and a rising portion interconnecting the base flange and the depending flange.

7. A former according to claim 2 in which a toe is formed on the finishing strip on the side to face the reference surface so proportioned and arranged as to contact the reference surface before the finishing strip contacts the opposite side of the depending flange when a compressive load is exerted on the installed finishing strip.

8. In combination: a carpet having a pile with viscoelastic properties, and a former for the edge of the carpet comprising a base member adapted to be attached to a reference surface; a depending flange on said base member rigidly disposed at a reference spacing from said reference surface; a resilient finishing strip possessing the property of viscoelasticity and having a cross-section which includes a contact flange, a fairing flange and, between the said flanges, a retention groove adapted to receive the depending flange the fairing flange being of such width as to overhang and bear against the rug with no impediment preventing the full continuous and resilient contacts of the fairing flange with the rug there being no medial part of the finishing strip between the portion of the fairing flange which contacts the rug and that portion of the contact flange which contacts the reference surface that impedes the initial movement of said medial part toward the reference surface from its engagement with the retention groove being in contact with the depending flange when there is no load on the finishing strip toward the reference surface thereby to establish a continuous force system between the rug and the fairing flange, whereby the depending flange draws the contact flange against the reference surface and, acting as the force in a second class lever system with the contact flange as a fulcrum, drawing the fairing flange against the edge of a rug, which rug lies adjacent to the former, the fairing flange being vertically spaced from the depend ing flange over a major portion of its free length so as to make unimpeded contact with the said to surface.

9. A former according to claim 8 in which the base member comprises a metal strip with a base flange adapted to be attached to the reference surface, and a rising portion interconnecting the base flange and the depending flange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,208,095 9/1965 Hill 16-16 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner D. L. TROUTMAN, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.

Inventor(s) ROBERT T. FULLER,

Dated September 15, 1970 KEITH A. SMITH It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 5, line 61, change "110" to -lO1-- Col. 7, line 36, change "engated" to --engaged-- Col. 8, line 9, after "flange" first occurrence, insert a comma Col. 8, line 11, after "full" insert a comma Col. 8, line 12, after "rug" insert a comma Col, 8, line 18, after "groove" insert the base of the retention groove-- Col. 8, line 64, after "flange" first occurrence, insert a comma Col. 8, line 66, after "full" insert a comma Col. 8, line 67, after "rug" insert a comma Col. 8, line 73, after "groove" insert the base of the retention groove-- Signed and sealed this 9th day of January 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

IEDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer FORM PC4050 (10-69) ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Commissioner of Patents 

